Flipside: Axelar to lead the charge in cross-chain interoperability growth

As a researcher with extensive experience in blockchain technology and decentralized applications, I am deeply intrigued by Axelar’s innovative approach to addressing the challenges of cross-chain adoption. The recent Flipside report on cross-chain interoperability has highlighted Axelar as a potential game-changer in this sector, with only 13% of Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) addresses having transacted across chains.


According to a recent report by Flipside, Axelar aims to tackle issues within the realm of decentralized applications and protocols.

In spite of the hurdles impeding the widespread use of cross-chain technology, with just 13% of Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) wallets having engaged in cross-chain transactions, Axelar’s latest advancements may significantly change the game in this area.

As an analyst, I would describe it this way: Axelar holds my attention due to its fundamental components – the Interchain Token Service (ITS) and General Message Passing (GMP). These features streamline the development process for creating decentralized applications (dApps) that operate across various blockchains. Consequently, Axelar emerges as a unified solution for constructing multichain applications.

ITS simplifies the process of generating tokens that function seamlessly across various EVM chains by automating their creation, thereby eliminating intricate bridge procedures. Simultaneously, GMP empowers developers to invoke functions across different protocols, essentially making cross-chain functionality as uncomplicated as building applications on a solitary chain.

The cross-chain solution offered by Axelar is striking a chord with both developers and users. According to on-chain data, Axelar has witnessed significant increases in GMP (gas money price) and ITS (interchain transfer state) usage. This growth has been remarkable, with over 31,000% expansion since October 2023.

Approximately 270,000 distinct users now utilize Axelar’s solution, signaling growing popularity within the wider crypto sphere. Notably, Axelar stands out in the Ethereum ecosystem, surpassing competitors such as Wormhole and LayerZero in usage numbers.

As a cross-chain analysis expert, I’ve noticed that while LayerZero and Wormhole have a larger total bridging volume than Axelar at the moment, Axelar is steadily expanding its presence in this competitive landscape.

Flipside: Axelar to lead the charge in cross-chain interoperability growth

With a dominating market share of over $3 billion in bridging volume, LayerZero stands as the leader. Yet, following closely is Axelar, boasting a substantial volume of over $1 billion. However, it’s important to note that Axelar’s bridging volume might be underrepresented due to non-EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) chains in its ecosystem which are not fully accounted for in data comparisons.

One reason Axelar continues to thrive is the Squid Router, a powerful cross-chain swap engine. This tool handles the majority of Generalized Market Places (GMP) transactions. The Squid Router has an impressive bridging volume of over $830 million and connects with prominent decentralized exchanges such as dYdX and PancakeSwap. By doing so, it offers seamless cross-chain swaps and conversions.

As a researcher studying the growth trends of Axelar, I’ve observed an intriguing correlation between Squid’s presence and our key performance indicators (GMP and ITS usage). The charts clearly show that as Squid’s involvement has increased, so too have these metrics. This suggests that Squid’s capabilities are not only significant but essential to Axelar’s thriving success.

Axelar sets itself apart as a secure and decentralized option in the realm of cross-chain solutions, tackling issues that are prevalent among many similar protocols. Its fully decentralized network of over 75 validators distinguishes it from LayerZero’s dependence on oracles and Wormhole’s permissioned validator set.

Additionally, the report highlighted that Axelar’s commitment to accessibility enables developers to effortlessly implement a multi-chain approach as a default, allowing dApps to effectively tackle the complexities of cross-chain compatibility.

As a researcher studying the intersection of blockchain technology and interoperability protocols, I’ve observed that centralized onboarding currently manages the majority of cross-chain activities. However, once a robust decentralized alternative becomes available, we could be on the brink of an unprecedented growth spurt for these protocols. Axelar is likely to spearhead this development.

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2024-05-09 19:10